Pitkin County

Five big employers in Aspen are joining forces to improve health care in the Valley. They’re part of a new group, the Valley Health Alliance, which enlists the help of doctors, hospitals, and other health-related professionals. The idea is to help bring down skyrocketing costs--while making sure employees get better care than before. To learn more, Aspen Public Radio’s Elise Thatcher spoke with Martie Edwards, Interim Executive Director of the Valley Health Alliance, and Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock.

Pitkin County is leading an effort to explore the development of new trails in the Upper Valley. At issue is whether new trails are needed for users like mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians. The effort is also meant to stop illegal trails from being built.

The County is focusing on a 125,000 acre swath of public land that covers areas from Woody Creek to Independence Pass, and acreage in between.

Gary Tennenbaum with Pitkin County Open Space and Trails said the Upper Roaring Fork Trails Plan will guide trail planning for the next 10 to 20 years.

In a meeting with Pitkin County Commissioners last week, U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton said he doesn’t support legislation to protect the Thompson Divide from oil and gas drilling. Instead, Tipton wants negotiations between conservationists and energy companies to continue. For years, the sides have been working on an alternate plan to protect the area. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.

If you’ve had your holiday lights for a while… especially if that’s more than a couple of years … Pitkin County and the City of Aspen are hoping you’ll consider buying new, more energy efficient lights to put up over the coming weeks. It’s part of an effort to lower energy use in the Aspen area… and make some cash, too. APR’s Elise Thatcher has more.

Reporter: Let’s get to the money first. Liz O’Connell is with the City of Aspen.

Now that the Basalt Town Board has green-lighted a senior housing facility, marketing efforts to reach area seniors will ramp up. The non-profit behind the Continuing Care Retirement Community wants to start building in 2015. Aspen Public Radio's Marci Krivonen reports.

In the future, the forests surrounding Aspen will look different. Already, mountain shrubs are replacing some Aspen stands and changing the complexion of the area. This is likely due to due a warming climate.

Traveling throughout the Roaring Fork Valley in the days leading up to the November 5 election, I was impressed by the slick signs trumpeting two of this year’s ballot issues in Pitkin County: “Vote YES on Amendment 66” and “Vote YES on Questions 4C and 4D.” Amendment 66 was, of course, the statewide financing proposal for public education that would have raised the income tax rate for all Coloradans, by 8% for those making $75,000 or less a year and by 27% for people making above that amount. Questions 4C and 4D were about a new recreation center in the mid-valley Crown Mountain Park and

The government shutdown in Washington is limiting access to one Colorado’s most visited places: the Maroon Bells. The road outside of Aspen closed to traffic yesterday during prime leaf-peeping season. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen reports.

The White River National Forest closed its facilities in the area Tuesday morning. Bathrooms are locked and campgrounds shuttered. The agency barricaded the popular parking areas just below the famed peaks. Pitkin County owns the two-lane road leading to the Bells. And, yesterday county commissioners were grappling with what to do.

Summit County is angling for an Act of Congress. Not just any act-- one that allows the County to buy a chunk of Forest Service land. The idea is to use it for affordable housing... an unusual plan in Colorado.

The next time you drive through Summit County on Interstate 70, look southeast, towards Dillon Dam Road and Dillon Reservoir. Forty acres there could become home for local residents. County Commissioner Dan Gibbs, a big supporter of the plan, says the land has “lost its forest character.”